Two commuter railway lines put on track by Brennan

TRANSPORT Minister Séamus Brennan yesterday gave the green light to 115 million commuter railway lines between Cork city and Midleton and Mallow.

Work is expected to start on the long-awaited commuter lines within the next two years following the commitment of the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP) representatives yesterday put up €40m towards the development of the commuter lines, Mr Brennan’s spokesman confirmed.

“The minister was very happy with this and now it will be up to his officials and Cork city and county officials to hammer out a timescale for the delivery of the project next Monday,” the spokesman added.

CAPS is the blueprint for development in Cork city and county drawn up by the two local authorities and business groups up to 2020.

The minister gave the two projects the go-ahead following a meeting with CASP representatives, Health Minister Micheál Martin, and Fianna Fáil deputies Noel O’Flynn and Billy Kelleher in Cork.

Mr Brennan was in Cork to unveil plans for the new €4m bus station at Parnell Place, due to be completed by the end of the year.

The two commuter lines from Cork city to Midleton and from Cobh to Mallow are crucial to the future development of the Cork city and county. The development of houses and industrial parks along these routes could not proceed without good commuter rail lines, CASP chairman Cllr Alan Coleman said.

“The minister was very impressed with our commitment to raise 40m in development levies that could be used towards the construction of new stations and upgrading the rolling stock,” he added.

CASP representatives told the minister they could deliver the necessary number of houses and businesses along both rail lines to make it financially viable by 2014.

Officials from the Department of Transport and CIÉ will meet with Cork city and county officials on Monday to work out a timeframe for the rail lines.

The new rail lines will see the re-opening of the Cork to Midleton line, with a 15-minute service. The Cobh to Mallow route will have a service every half-hour. New stations will be built at Kilbarry, Blarney, Monard and Rathpeacon.